Undated Jazz Concert Review

Article headed "Jazz Sextet Dazzles Market House Audience." - By Bill Garts

This article might be titled "Easy Reviews - Part II." Last week, about this time, this reviewer mentioned that some music reviews are tough, while others are quite easy. Last week's was easy. This week's is easier by far.

On this past Friday evening, there was a musical happening at the Meadville Council on the Arts. A jazz sextet came to town, sponsored by the Allegheny Jazz Society, and thrilled an almost-capacity audience in the little Gardner Theatre, located on the second floor of the Meadville Market House.

Five members of the sextet come from the New York City area. The sixth member is from Costa Mesa, California. The New York contingent consists of the leader and master-of-ceremonies, Dan Levinson, playing clarinet, C-melody sax, and tenor sax. The pianist is Mark Shane. Randy Sandke, a marvelous musician, played cornet exclusively on Friday evening. Vince Giordano brought along his upright string bass, his tuba, and that most-noble of instruments, the bass saxophone. The young drummer, Kevin Dorn, 27, kept things moving nicely.

And from California came the master of the trombone, probably the finest trombonist in jazz today, Dan Barrett.

The first set opened with the 1922 composition "That Da-Da Strain," and was followed by the 1905 number "My Gal Sal," which featured very pretty cornet by Sandke, and C-melody sax by Levinson.

An up-tempo number from 1929, "Just You, Just Me" featured Levinson on tenor sax, with a very Vic Dickensonian trombone solo by Barrett.

Next came the first four-star performance of the evening, a slow, slippery version of "Margie," done by Barrett and the rhythm section. This reviewer first heard Barrett do "Margie" back in early November, 1990 at the Riverside Hotel in Cambridge Springs, and noted then that Joseph "Tricky Sam" Nanton, a master of mutes in the old Duke Ellington band, must surely be looking down and smiling. This number has become one of Barrett's calling cards; he uses the plunger mute to great advantage and good humor, even plays the seldom-heard verse unaccompanied. Just a great performance!

Another four-star number was the 1992 composition, "My Honey's Lovin' Arms," which featured pianist Shane in a Teddy Wilson groove, Levinson's low-register clarinet, another pretty solo by Sandke, and Barrett playing the lower register of the trombone.

Next came a lovely ballad medley, "These Foolish Things" featuring cornetist Sandke, "Embraceable You" by the Gershwin Brothers, featuring Levinson on tenor sax, Eubie Blake's 1930 "Memories Of You" done by Barrett, and Shane's very pretty version of "It's The Talk Of The Town."

The set ended with an up-tempo version of the 1923 composition "Linger Awhile."

This was another evening of superior music, played by the cream-of-the-crop of jazz musicians. Levinson is a fine player on any of his instruments, and his good-humored remarks and knowledge of the music keeps things moving nicely.

Sandke is a marvelous musician, seems to be able to play in any style, from Bix Beiderbecke to Dizzy Gillespie, and to do it convincingly. On Friday, as mentioned, he played cornet exclusively, and played with a mellowness that a trumpet can not provide.

Pianist Shane is the perfect musician for this group. Heavily influenced by Teddy Wilson, he is one of the few two-handed pianists left in jazz. On up-tempo numbers, hs has the Wilson "hop" down perfectly. On the slower numbers, he shows his lyrical side.

Giordano is a showman with the upright bass, and happens to be a very good bassist, too. He also plays tuba with authority, is a master of the bass saxophone, is also a very good vocalist.

The young drummer, Kevin Dorn, is developing into one of the finest drummers playing this style of music. He has been listening to recordings of some of the greats, such as Dave Tough, Cliff Leeman and George Wettling, and it shows.

Finally, trombonist Barrett continues to amaze with his versatility, musicianship and good humor. He is a marvelous player, and, as mentioned above, this reviewer considers him to be the finest jazz trombonist now playing.

There will be two more concerts this week-end. However, sad to say, both performances are completely sold out.

Garts is producer/host of the long-running radio program, "Saturday Swing Session," which airs each Saturday evening from 8 until 11 on National Public Radio Station WQLN-FM (91.3 FM) in Erie.